Bill Murray sued for divorce

Academy Award-nominated actor and comedian Bill Murray, who makes regular public appearances in the Lowcountry as a co-owner of the Charleston RiverDogs baseball team, is accused of drug addiction, abandonment, adultery and physically abusing his wife of more than 10 years, according to a recent court filing in Charleston County.

Jennifer Butler Murray cites the allegations as grounds for divorce, according to the complaint filed May 12 in family court. Records in the case were sealed Friday by a court order.

The Murrays married in 1997 and have four children, all minors.

Jennifer Murray is represented by Charleston attorney Robert Rosen, who declined to comment on the case Wednesday and said his client also would not comment on the filing.

Court records do not list an attorney for Bill Murray, who is listed in the complaint as "William Murray" and famously does not have a publicist or agent. A telephone message left for Murray at the RiverDogs office Wednesday was not returned.

Jennifer Murray also seeks a restraining order barring Bill Murray from her Sullivan's Island home and asks the court to determine if the couple's premarital agreement is valid and enforceable.

The Murrays signed the agreement before their marriage on July 4, 1997. It stipulates that if either spouse files for divorce, both parties retain all of their separate property, waive any right to alimony or support and maintain responsibilities for their children.

If the marriage is dissolved and the 23-page premarital agreement is made a part of the order, Bill Murray agrees to pay Jennifer Murray $7 million, according to a copy of the agreement accompanying the complaint.

According to the complaint, Jennifer Murray moved into a Sullivan's Island home in 2006 with the couple's four children due to her husband's "adultery, addiction to marijuana and alcohol, abusive behavior, physical abuse, sexual addictions and frequent abandonment."

Jennifer Murray purchased the Sullivan's Island beach house in 2006 for $3.65 million, according to county property records.

It was at the Sullivan's Island home, according to the complaint, that Murray allegedly abused his wife in November 2007. The six-page court filing says Murray "hit his wife in the face and then told her she was 'lucky he didn't kill her.' "

The complaint alleges that Murray physically abused his wife on more than one occasion during the marriage.

Bill Murray, a former "Saturday Night Live" cast member, has starred in films such as "Ghostbusters," "Caddyshack," "Meatballs," "Stripes" and "Groundhog Day." He was awarded a Golden Globe for Best Actor and was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in "Lost in Translation."

Bill Murray's title with the RiverDogs is Director of Fun. He can be seen at the team's home field on any given night, according to the team Web site.

Murray also is a co-owner of Goldklang Group, a sports entertainment firm that represents the marketing and promotion rights for the RiverDogs and several other baseball teams.